Rear endgate actuating mechanism for carry-type scrapers



May 5, 1953 R. e. LE TOURNEAU 2,637,124

REAR ENDGATE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CARRY-TYPE SCRAPERS Filed Aug. 19,1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR N R. G. LeTburneau sv wuivmi/ ATTORNEYSFclg. 1

y 5, 1953 R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,637,124

REAR ENDGATE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CARRY'TYPE SCRAPERS Filed Aug. 19,1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR R. GL8 Tourneau BY m1 mi,

ATTORNEYS Patented May 5, 1953 REAR ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR GARRY-TYPE'SCRAPERS Robert Le .Tourn'eau, Longview, .Tex., assignm- "to R. 'G.lL'eTourn'eau, Ina, Stockton, CaliL, a

corporation application August .19, 194:7, "Serial N01769335 1 '2Claims. lI his invention relates to improvements in carry-type earthscrapers which include a bowl, and :a rear endgate movable through thebowl, :from a normally retracted position, to eject the load.

The present invention provides a'novel actuat ing mechanism for the rearendg-a'te operative to positively advance and retract said-endg'ate.

The invention further provides an actuating mechanism, as in thepreceding paragraph, which includes, in novel assembly, a reversible,electric motor driven, power unit mounted on tliescrapcr .fr-ame to therear of the endgate, and a double acting cablesystem connected betweensaid power unit and the rear endgate in reciprocating relation to thelatter.

The inventionadditionally provides a rearcndgate actuating mechanismwhich is simple and practical "yet provides-a rugged substantiallyfoolproof structure 'Wl'll'Ch'llS effective for the purpose T Figure "2is a longitudinal. sectional elevation on line 2-2 oflF'ig. "1.

Figure '3 is a similar view but shows the actuating mechanism and theendgate in partially advanced position.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration the double acting cable systemwhich the invention incorporates.

Referring now more particularly to the charactors of reference on'thedrawings, the rear endgate actuating mechanism is here show-n embodiedin a carry-type earth working scraper which includes a frame, indicatedgenerally at i, supporting a bowl 2 initially open at its rear end.

The main frame I includes, rearwardly of the bowl 2, a rearwardlyprojecting, rigid skeleton frame 3 having a cross beam 4 therein whichis fitted at opposite ends with stub axles 5 on which pneumatic tiredwheels 6 are mounted.

The bowl includes a bottom '6, and the initially open rear end of saidbowl is defined at its upper edge by a top cross beam 8, and at itslower edge by a bottom cross beam 9.

A rear endgate I0 is disposed in the bowl 2 in a normally retractedposition, as in Figs. 1 and 2;

such rear cndgate to riding "the bottom 'l' Jot" the bowl, whereby toeffectively scour the bowl bottom as the rear endgate advances. Suchscouring action is enhanced byireasonof the entire weight of the rearendgate resting on the bowl bottom, and additional downward pressure isattainedwhen said endgate advances against a load-by reason of theupwardand rearward inclination "of the 'e'ndg'ate and by ip'ushing thesame from above its lower-edge.

The rear 'endgate i l includes "a rigidfirearwardk; tapering push andguide frame indicated generally at H, and atlits rear "end saidpush:lram-e isfitted'with a carriage 1i z'vlhic'hfis rollermounted ahorizontal longitudinally extending rail beam 5 3 fixed substantiallycentrally in the skeleton frame 3.

With the above arrangement, movement of the carriage .52 along the :railbeam 113 forwardly or rearwardl'y advances or retracts, respectively,the rear endgatc Iii.

Such "advancing "or retracting motion is accomplished through the mediumof the following iacutating mechanism:

A reversible electric motor driven power unit, indicated at M, is:mountcd with its axis vertical on a horizontal platform it carried bybrackets It aiiixed to the cross beam 4 laterally offset from the railbeam It. The power unit it includes, at its lower end and belowthelplatf'orm It, a vertical .axis cable drum ii; there being a singlelength of cable l3 Wound about said drum with a number of turnsintermediate the ends of said cable. There are thus'two runs'of thecable which lead oppositely from the drum; one run being indicarted atEl and the other :run being indicated at 2B.

The cable run it is the :entlga'te advancing .run 5012 the cable andsaid run leads forwardly from the drum t'll about direction changingsheave carried on a mounting plate '22 in the skeleton fren-1e i; aheadof the power unit iii. fixed direction changing sheave 2! the cable runi9 extends rcarwardly and turns about a direction changing sheave 23fixed on the carriage I2 for movement therewith. After passing about thedirection changing sheave 23 the cable run It goes forward and turnsabout a direction changing sheave M on the mounting plate 22, and thencesaid cable run passes rearwardly to a dead end 25 on the push frame I i.

The other cable run 20, which is the endgate retracting run, extendsforwardly from the cable drum H and turns about a direction changingsheave 26 secured to the back of the rear endgate l0, and thence extendsrearwardly about another direction changing sheave 2'! on the mountingplate 22. After passing about the direction changing sleeve 2? theendgate retracting run 25) of the cable passes forwardly and dead ends,as at 28, on the back of said rear endgate l2.

With the above cable system, which is double acting, rotation of thecable drum ill by the power unit M in one direction causes the cable runit to wind onto the drum shortening the effective length of said run andadvancing the carriage [2 on the rail beam :3. This thrusts the rearendgate ill forwardly advancing it in the bowl 2 to eject the load fromthe latter. When this occurs the effective length of the other cable run20 is increased.

Upon reverse of the power unit to, and turning of the cable drum i? inthe opposite direction, the cable run it is increased in its effectivelength whereas the cable run 2 is shortened causing retraction of thecarriage 12 with the connected rear endgatc Ell, returning the latter toits normal retract/ed or starting position.

As the power unit it and the double acting cable system are mounted intheir entirety in the skeleton frame 3 at the rear of the scraper, the sructure is quite compact and permits of the elimination of numerousworking parts otherwise necessary. The mechanism is practical, ruggedand smooth operating; providing positive advancing and retracting motionof the rear endgate at the selection of the tractor operator. The revereelectric motor driven, power unit it is controlled and energized throughthe Inc-5 m of a control circuit (not shown) which leads forwardly tothe tractor and. there includes a reversing switch accessible to thetractor operator.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and pr ferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A rear endgate actuating mechanism for a carry-type scraper whichincludes a bowl having the endgate supported therein for reciprocationfrom a normall retr cted position, and a rigid frame projectingrearwardly from the bowl; said mechanism comprising a push frameprojecting rearwardly from the endgate, a longitudinal rail beam in therigid frame, a carriage on the push frame riding the rail beam, areversible power unit mounted on the rigid frame, the power unit 60opposed runs leading from the drum in a forward direction, a pair ofdirection changing sheaves on the rigid frame ahead of the carriage, adirection changing sheave on the carriage, one run of the cableextending between said pair of sheaves with a loop running rearward overthe sheave on the carriage, means dead ending said one run on the pushframe, another pair of direction changing sheaves mounted one on therigid frame and one on the endgate, said other run passing about thesheave on the endgate, thence extending rearward to and about the one ofthe sheaves of said other pair, on the rigid frame, and then passingforward, and means dead ending said other run on the endgate.

2. A rear endgate actuating mechanism for a carrying scraper whichincludes a bowl in which the endgate is supported for longitudinalreciprocation from a normally retracted position, and a pair of separaterearwardly projecting frames rigid with the bowl and en'dgaterespectively, a longitudinal rail on one frame and a carriage on theother frame riding the rail; the actuating mechanism comprising areversible power unit mounted on said one frame and including a cabledrum, a cable wound intermediate its ends about the drum to form a pairof opposed runs leading forwardly from the drum, a pair ofdirectionchanging sheaves on said one frame ahead of the drum, a third.direction-changing sheave mounted with said other frame rearwardly ofthe first named sheaves, one run of the cable extending between saidpair of sheaves with a loop running rearward over said third sheave,means dead-ending said one run on the other frame, a fourthdirection-changing sheave on said one frame and a fifthdirection-changing sheave mounted in connection with the other frameahead of said pair of sheaves, said other run of the cable passing aboutsaid fifth sheave, thence extending rearward to and about said fourthsheave forwardly, and means dead-ending said other run in connectionwith said other frame.

ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 855,336 Randall et a1 May 28, 1907 2,246,083 Weber June 17,1941 2,298,982 Smith Oct. 13, 1942 2,345,313 Armington et a1. Mar. 28,19% 2,353,120 Austin July 11, 1944 2,394,46 Rockwell Feb. 5, 19462,395,244 Austin Feb. 19, 1946 2,406,300 Le Tourneau Aug. 20, 19462,422,813 Nalch June 24, 1947 2,529,848 Murray Nov. 14, 1950 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 536,317 Great Britain May 9, 1341

